What is the Greek national minority of Albania?

The Greeks who live in the “minority zones” of Albania are officially recognised by the Albanian government as the Greek National Minority of Albania ( Greek: Ελληνική Μειονότητα στην Αλβανία, Elliniki Mionotita stin Alvania; Albanian: Minoriteti Grek në Shqipëri ).

Where do the Greek speakers live in Albania?

Due to both forced and voluntary internal migration of Greeks within Albania during the communist era, some Greek speakers are also located within the wider Përmet and Tepelenë regions. Outside the area defined as Northern Epirus, two coastal Greek speaking villages exist near Vlorë; Nartë and Zvërnec.

Is there a census for Greece in Albania?

This census is not recognised by the Albanian government. The total resident Greek population in Albania, both historically and presently is around 300,000 by modest estimates. In addition 189,000 reside in Greece who are also Albanian nationals, and hold special status in Greece as ‘Greeks of Albania’.

What is the meaning of Northern Epirus?

Northern Epirus. The region of Epirus, stretching across Greece and Albania. The Greek minority in Albania is concentrated in the south of the country, along the border with Greece, an area referred to by Greeks as “Northern Epirus”.

What is the relationship like between Albania and Greece?

Due to the presence of Albanian immigrants in Greece and the Greek minority in Albania, historical and cultural ties as well as the frequent high-level contacts between the governments of Albania and Greece, the two countries today maintain strong, yet at times complicated, diplomatic relations.

What was the Albanian-Greek conflict of 1993 and 1994?

In 1993 and 1994, a series of events concerning the rights of Greeks in Albania and of Albanians in Greece provoked open conflict between the Albanian state under President Berisha and the Greek state under Prime Minister Papandreou.

Are there any Greeks with Albanian citizenship?

Furthermore, 189,000 ethnic Greeks with Albanian citizenship reside in Greece, and are issued special identity cards. The Greek minority in Albania is concentrated in the south of the country, along the border with Greece, an area referred to by Greeks as “Northern Epirus”.